Consider Jesus

Hebrews 3:1-6: Consider Jesus In life, we are all faced with decisions. Many times - particularly in adulthood - these decisions are life altering. Examples include getting married, starting a family, or becoming a homeowner. For my family, when we went home shopping a couple of years ago, we had a very specific thought in mind: a forever home. Something that worked for our small family that would work now, as well as for the future. There are many advantages to being a homeowner, including freedom, financial implications, credit implications, and for many investment implications. But imagine being in God's House, where Jesus is the owner. We're going to talk about that today, as we continue in our sermons series in Hebrews called "Greater Than." Today we will be in Hebrews chapter 3, so go ahead and find your way there now. In this chapter, we will see two things. First, we will see the benefits of living in God's House, and second, we will see that Jesus is even greater than Moses. Let's go ahead and begin by reading verse 1. 1 THEREFORE, HOLY BROTHERS, YOU WHO SHARE IN A HEAVENLY CALLING, CONSIDER JESUS, THE APOSTLE AND HIGH PRIEST OF OUR CONFESSION, I'm going to pause here, as there is a lot packed into this single verse. So, what I want to do is break this verse down a little before getting into the rest of the text. This is important because it will help us to connect chapter 2 with what we are about to read. First thing to notice here is the terms HOLY BROTHERS and HEAVENLY CALLING. For the Christian, these are critical words. We learned last week that we have been made part of God's family, by being united in the blood of Jesus. His work makes it possible to commune with God. We also see here that we share in a heavenly calling because we are now part of God's family. This is something we'll talk more about this morning. John Piper says that this "heavenly calling relates to the two great needs that we have: a word from God and a way to God. And it's a calling, which means it is meant to show us the way home to God." Only a Christian can be called a holy brother and share in this heavenly calling. Aside from this amazing truth found immediately in this section, we also need to define a few words and terms to help us better understand what this section is saying. The first word is a word that may not be a strong enough word in the English language for us to fully grasp its meaning is: Consider = this means to put your whole mind to, to observe with careful attention. It's an active and intense word, a call to action. The writer here is saying, above all else, look to Jesus. This is a difficult task for anyone, let alone the Christian today. What does this mean for us today? Well, how about the example of media, or government, or societal influences in general. What they are doing is trying to force people how to live, what to believe, and in a sense trying to tell us what is good and bad. Considering Jesus means that we hold the Truth of the Word of God in higher regard. This means we will, often, be going against the grain. Going against what the culture tells us to believe. This is difficult, no doubt, but the reward outweighs the immediate benefits of belonging to the world and instead we belong to the Household and family of God. Several years ago, my manager said in a staff meeting that I was going to "fix" the training compliance numbers, so that we can pass an upcoming audit. Immediately, I corrected him and advised everyone that I was going to audit the numbers and ensure they were accurate. The next morning, I pulled him aside and advised him that I would not lie, and if he expected me to, then I was prepared to submit my resignation. I had to stand up for the truth, even if it meant not passing the audit, or even me losing my job. The next word is unique as a designation to Jesus, and that is the term: Apostle = this is the only time that this term is used to describe Jesus. The term used here means "one who is sent by commission" or "one sent forth." Interestingly, this is the same term used in chapter 1, verse 14 to describe the angels sent out as ministering spirits. We know that Jesus was sent by God, as He Himself confirmed this in John 17:18 in His High Priestly Prayer to the Father when He said: YOU SENT ME INTO THE WORLD, SO I HAVE SENT THEM INTO THE WORLD. This is part of that heavenly calling we just talked about. The next term I want to look at is also found in verse 1, namely, High Priest = the THEREFORE in verse 1 ties this section into at least the latter part of chapter 2 that we looked at last week. When we look back again at verses 17-18 of chapter 2, we saw that Jesus had to become man, to become a merciful high priest, and we are reminded of these words: 17 THEREFORE HE HAD TO BE MADE LIKE HIS BROTHERS IN EVERY RESPECT, SO THAT HE MIGHT BECOME A MERCIFUL AND FAITHFUL HIGH PRIEST IN THE SERVICE OF GOD, TO MAKE PROPITIATION FOR THE SINS OF THE PEOPLE. 18 FOR BECAUSE HE HIMSELF HAS SUFFERED WHEN TEMPTED, HE IS ABLE TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE BEING TEMPTED. You see, a high priest was one who represents one party to another. The root word here paints the picture of a bridge. Jesus is that bridge from sinful man to a holy God. Jesus unifies the offices, so to speak, of apostle and priest. He stands between man and God and vouches for the Christian. The next word I want to look at is: Confession = this is an action made by Christians. This Greek word is found 6 times in the New Testament, three times right here in Hebrews. Each time it refers to the confession of faith. It's a profession of faith. Think about the implication of this sort of confession. These are new Christians being persecuted for their beliefs (see Hebrews 10:32-36). These were Christians likely living under Roman rule. Christians who - because of their suffering - considered returning to Judaism. Confessing your faith in Jesus is difficult, even today. In our culture today, a Christian is labeled as a bigot, a racist, a homophobe, and more. But let's not forget about our brothers and sisters abroad who literally risk their lives for professing Christ as Lord. Let's get back into the text now and see how all this ties into our main idea that will be discussed shortly. Let's pick back up in verse 1 and read through the entire section: 1 THEREFORE, HOLY BROTHERS, YOU WHO SHARE IN A HEAVENLY CALLING, CONSIDER JESUS, THE APOSTLE AND HIGH PRIEST OF OUR CONFESSION, 2 WHO WAS FAITHFUL TO HIM WHO APPOINTED HIM, JUST AS MOSES ALSO WAS FAITHFUL IN ALL GOD'S HOUSE. 3 FOR JESUS HAS BEEN COUNTED WORTHY OF MORE GLORY THAN MOSES-AS MUCH MORE GLORY AS THE BUILDER OF A HOUSE HAS MORE HONOR THAN THE HOUSE ITSELF. 4 (FOR EVERY HOUSE IS BUILT BY SOMEONE, BUT THE BUILDER OF ALL THINGS IS GOD.) 5 NOW MOSES WAS FAITHFUL IN ALL GOD'S HOUSE WAS A SERVANT, TO TESTIFY TO THE THINGS THAT WERE TO BE SPOKEN LATER, 6 BUT CHRIST IS FAITHFUL OVER GOD'S HOUSE AS A SON. AND WE ARE HIS HOUSE, IF INDEED WE HOLD FAST OUR CONFIDENCE AND OUR BOASTING IN OUR HOPE. Again, we will be talking about two things here. We will talk about the House of the Lord, and we will also spend some time talking about how Jesus is greater than Moses. Both of these truths are important for this young, Hebrew Church, as well as for us today. I'll be doing a little something different this morning because I am going to ask you to help me with this next part. You guys are going to help fill in the blanks today. Look again at the text, I've left it up the full text for you. What is the word that is used most often in this section? House, that's right! There you have it, our main idea today: The house of the Lord is greater than every other house. You see, this chapter isn't all about Moses and Jesus? The writer, however focuses on supremacy of the House of the Lord. The writer presents three arguments defending the supremacy of the House of the Lord: 1. The house belongs to God a. Let's look at 1 Peter 2:4-5: 4 AS YOU COME TO HIM, A LIVING STONE REJECTED BY MEN BUT IN THE SIGHT OF GOD CHOSEN AND PRECIOUS, 5 YOU YOURSELVES LIKE LIVING STONES ARE BEING BUILT UP AS A SPIRITUAL HOUSE, TO BE A HOLY PRIESTHOOD, TO OFFER SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES ACCEPTABLE TO GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. b. What is most promising about this? a. Verse 6 tells us that we are the house of the Lord. b. You can't help but wonder if this section is also foreshadowing the destruction of the Temple, which was destroyed in AD 70. 2. Jesus is the Son, so the house belongs to Jesus (this goes hand in hand with this next point, that...) 3. Moses was merely a servant in the House of God a. One commentator said this about the contrast of servants and sons, and their role in this time: "Servants have an obligation to faithfulness, but sons have a special, vested interest in and authority over the house." The Jewish believers were still holding on to Moses, the Law, but what we learn here is that the House of the Lord is greater than the house of Moses. So, lets talk a little but about Moses, as he is obviously a large part of this chapter. Why Moses, you may be wondering? The author here jumps from Jesus being greater than the angels to emphasizing His deity to emphasizing His humanity and now to comparing Him to Moses. First thing to point out is that the writer is not tearing Moses down, in fact much later in the letter, we see that Moses is included in the great "faith" chapter. This is a great passage (found in Hebrews 11:23-28) to learn a bit more about Moses' journey. Charles Swindoll said this about why Moses is mentioned here: "In the minds of the Jewish readers, a significant figure was still missing from the author's argument for the superiority of Christ's person and work: Moses. He, too, was sent by God. He, too, stood between God and the nation of Israel as their mediator. No other figure in the Old Testament would have been as highly esteemed by the Jewish people. Had the author of Hebrews been interested in flattering his readers rather than exalting Christ, he would have avoided the subject of Moses altogether. Instead, he pressed on to broach the delicate matter of the superiority of Jesus even to Moses." The Bible is clear on the position of Moses. In Deuteronomy 34:10, we read these words: AND THERE HAS NOT ARISEN A PROPHET SINCE IN ISRAEL LIKE MOSES, WHOM THE LORD KNEW FACE TO FACE Moses, as noted previously, belongs in the Hall of Faith found later in Hebrews 11, but in no way does he stand close in comparison to Jesus. One of the keys areas that differentiated Moses and Jesus was their relationship to the Law. Moses, for example, administered the Law, while Jesus fulfilled the Law. We also know from Galatians 3 that the Law cannot save you, only Christ can. In fact, Galatians 3:24-26 says: 24 SO THEN, THE LAW WAS OUR GUARDIAN UNTIL CHRIST CAME, IN ORDER THAT WE MIGHT BE JUSTIFIED BY FAITH. 25 BUT NOW THAT FAITH HAS COME, WE ARE NO LONGER UNDER A GUARDIAN, 26 FOR IN CHRIST JESUS YOU ARE ALL SONS OF GOD, THROUGH FAITH. That word guardian means "schoolteacher," it was a guide until Christ came, who fulfilled the Law perfectly. Think about the relationship of a tenant and the owner, the tenant is under the law of the owner. In God's House, we are part of the Family, of Jesus, the rightful owner of the House. SO, WHY IS JESUS GREATER THAN MOSES? 1. He is the apostle (3:1) a. Moses was also an apostle; in the sense we used the word earlier. b. However, it is important to note that Moses spoke about Jesus. In fact, Jesus spoke about this very thing in John 5. Here, Jesus is speaking with the religious leaders, and emphasized His authority and His deity. Later in the chapter, we come across these words: 43 I HAVE COME IN MY FATHER'S NAME, AND YOU DO NOT RECEIVE ME. IF ANOTHER COMES IN HIS OWN NAME, YOU WILL RECEIVE HIM. 44 HOW CAN YOU BELIEVE, WHEN YOU RECEIVE GLORY FROM ONE ANOTHER AND DO NOT SEEK THE GLORY THAT COMES FROM THE ONLY GOD? 45 DO NOT THINK THAT I WILL ACCUSE YOU TO THE FATHER. THERE IS ONE WHO ACCUSES YOU: MOSES, ON WHOM YOU HAVE SET YOUR HOPE. 46 FOR IF YOU BELIEVED MOSES, YOU WOULD BELIEVE ME; FOR HE WROTE OF ME. 47 BUT IF YOU DO NOT BELIEVE HIS WRITINGS, HOW WILL YOU BELIEVE MY WORDS?" c. Moses wrote about Jesus; therefore, He is not a greater messenger than He is 2. He is the high priest (3:1) a. Moses played many roles, and according to Psalm 99:6, he did play the role of priest, but never was the High Priest, his brother Aaron was. b. Hebrews argues that Jesus is the High Priest, and there is no need for another 3. He is the fulfillment of Moses' testimony (3:5) a. Jesus affirms this in Matthew 5:17, where He says, DO NOT THINK THAT I HAVE COME TO ABOLISH THE LAW OR THE PROPHETS; I HAVE NOT COME TO ABOLISH THEM BUT TO FULFILL THEM b. Jesus did this by being a teacher as well as a doer c. Everything spoken by the Law and the prophets was completed in His life, death and resurrection. 4. He is the Son of God (3:6) a. This is yet another affirmation of what we discussed back in chapter 1:3. Simply put, the designation of the Son of God points to Jesus being equal to God. To Jesus being God. b. In the sense that this word is being used, it specific speaks to the Messiah, the Savior, to the perfect replica of God c. This affirms that only in Christ, is salvation possible. Therefore, He is superior to Moses. Therefore, His House is superior to the house that Moses was merely a servant of. Finally: 5. He is the ruler of God's House (3:5) a. As Son, He is the rightful heir b. As the builder, He naturally has dominion over His house. SO, WHAT DO WE DO NOW? 1. Consider Jesus. c. Charles Swindoll also said this: "The superiority of Jesus will do us no good if we don't place Him as superior in our own lives." d. He must be first. 2. Consider becoming part of God's Household a. We've already seen that this Household is reserved for those who persevere. To those who hold fast to the faith. To those who hold Jesus above all else. b. But in His house, we are under His protection. His guidance. His love. His grace. Why would we want to be anywhere else? c. This really bring us back to our main idea: The house of the Lord is greater than every other house. This section of the great letter of Hebrews provides encouragement to every Christian who may struggle with keeping Jesus on top. You see, we consider Jesus, because Jesus is greater. This means, we are to consider Jesus in all areas of our lives. When the world around us is telling us to consider other things, we must stand strong and consider Jesus. Consider Jesus in your marriage Consider Jesus in your family Consider Jesus in your decision making Consider Jesus in your job and career Consider Jesus in your suffering Consider Jesus in your pain Consider Jesus in your difficulties Consider Jesus in your in your doubt Consider Jesus. Let's Pray 2